Here are the familiar, fantastic, fastidious, photo realsistic watercolors of Ro Mayer. They are like Mardi Gras itself, difficult to control, but easy to love.

Anually, Ro Mayer in her Persona as Director, armed with a small megaphoneand a Hollywood style claque, ventures to the French Quarter early Mardi Gras morning. Her husband, Leon, also armed with a camera accompanies her on her search for her quarry-Unreal People in Bizarre Finery!

"It awas not unitl I came up with the Director-Photographer idea that I could get people to pose or even pay attention," says Ro. "Without the props, it just wasn't any fun for them sometimes. I was just another unknown voyeur. With the claque all I need do is claque at them and instantly have their rapt attention. Scene one. Take two. Is the light just right? Would I look better over here? I'm ready for my close up Ms. Demille! Well, most of them pose happily. I occasionally have to follow one around and beg."

The process of converting the photos into watercolors involves enlarging and rendering them as line drawings on watercolor paper, editing out the unnecessary and the ugly. Then painting the scene painstakingly in the unforgiving medium of watercolors. There are several elements, however small, which consistently reoccur throughout the series. Foremost, there are the costumed people, reening and showing off their flashy custom or homemade finery, sometimes wearing beads, usually carrying a drink, alone or in couples or groups.

Then there are the onlookers. Bystanders and gawkers oten in street clothes, sometimes Mardi Gras colors, more likely in blue jeans always wearing beads and carrying a drink.

And finally there is the backdrop of New Orleans' wonderful romantic French Quarter a spectacular unifying melange of aged, crumbling brick, slate, stucco, shutters, deep shadows and wrought iron lace.

Trained as an artist from age 6 through high school and college at USL and through private lessons with local masters, Ro Mayer rarely makes her work available. She has had work stolen, had a studio burn down with 3 years of work and lost her share to Hurricane Katrina, too, like many of you. This has mad eher a bit protective of her art.

Capture on now for your own personal collection while you have the chance.